Woman struck by car in Columbia, MoDOT says pedestrian fatalities hit record-high in 2024

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Witnesses on Monday said a woman was struck by a car near the intersection of North Providence Road and East Texas Ave in Columbia.

Alejandro Figueroa-Saez said a blue Toyota hit a woman who was crossing the street.   Saez added that another truck came and rolled over her arm before he ran out into the middle of Providence Road to try and stop traffic.

An attendant at the Eagle Stop Gas station said she also saw the woman get hit shortly before Saez ran into traffic to try and help her. However, that person chose to remain anonymous due to her company's media policy. 

The accident comes after more than 900 people died on Missouri roadways in 2024, while pedestrian deaths reached a record high. However, the Missouri Department of Transportation says progress is being made in its strategic highway saftey plan, Show-Me Zero. 

For the third consecutive year, the Show-Me State saw a decrease in roadway deaths. According to a release from MoDOT, 954 people died on Missouri roadways in 2024 which was a 4% decrease from the 989 traffic deaths in 2023 and a 10% drop from the 1,057 deaths in 2022. 

However, the 954 people who died still averaged out to nearly three deaths a day (2.61). The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety highlights that four simple actions -- buckle up, phone down, slow down, and drive sober -- can play a crucial role in preventing fatal crashes.

“Unfortunately,  you know, we've got a lot of people who find themselves feeling like it's necessary that they're on their phone while they're driving,” Kyle Green, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said. “That leads to some of the crashes that we have and also contributes to some of the pedestrian crashes that we have where individuals are distracted on their phones and may hit a pedestrian at an intersection or a  crosswalk.” 

Despite the decline in roadway fatalities, pedestrian deaths spiked by 16% from 2023 for a record-high 148 people struck and killed on Missouri roads. This was 21 higher than the 127 killed in 2023. According to MoDOT many of the deaths were the result of people who had left their cars after a crash or breakdown. 

“We've had an issue with pedestrians being struck.  We understand that many times if you're involved in a minor collision or let's say a vehicle slid off the roadway from the snow or ice, the natural tendency is to get out of the vehicle and look around. The problem with doing that is, it makes getting struck that much easier,” Green said. “We encourage everybody to stay in their vehicle. At least you have the protection of your vehicle.  Once first responders can get there and get the scene safe and then we can address what type of damage your vehicle has.” 

Green added pedestrians being distracted by phones is also an issue. 

“Don't just assume because you're in a crosswalk that everybody can see you and that everybody's going to stop for you because unfortunately, many times they don't see you in time because they're distracted on their phone,” Green explained. 

The MSHP is encouraging drivers who need to pull over for an emergency -- such as changing a tire -- to pull as far off the road near grass as possible, and constantly check over their shoulder for oncoming traffic. 

On Jan 1., Missouri began issuing fines for its new Siddens-Bening Hands-Free Law, which prohibits drivers from holding or touching cell phones while behind the wheel. 

“From an enforcement standpoint it’s been difficult this year just because of the weather we’ve had,” Kyle Green of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. “Anytime we get snow and ice that makes it problematic where our resources are diverted towards crashes and slide-offs. It also makes it hard to make traffic stops the following few days. 

The law is named in part after Randall Siddens, 34, of Columbia, who died from injuries he sustained from being hit by a driver in 2019 who was video chatting on a cellphone and speeding.

The state hopes the law will reduce the number of distracting driving deaths, which they say contributed to more than 100 deaths in each of the past two years.

Motorcyclist fatalities decreased by 23% with 133 motorcyclists killed this past year. That was the fewest since Missouri repealed its all-rider helmet law in 2020, before the law was replaced Missouri averaged 120 motorcycle deaths per year. 

ABC 17 News has reached out to the Columbia Police Department and Columbia Fire Department about the Monday crash.